Asian shares rose on Thursday after an overnight surge on U.S. markets. Investors were focused on the European Central Bank's meeting later in the day. KEEPING SCORE: Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.9 percent to 18,654.93 while South Korea's Kospi jumped 1.3 percent to 2,016.99. Hong Kong's Hang Seng

More solid U.S. jobs data Friday did little to alter the underlying cautious mood in global stock markets as investors braced for Italy's referendum on constitutional reform over the weekend and as the oil price's rally fizzled